National Institute of Technology

Sep 01, 2024

NITC celebrated the 64th Foundation Day

National Institute of Technology Calicut celebrated the 64th Foundation Day honouring employees, alumni, and retired employees also recalling the various achievements of the institute, students, staff, faculty and alumni over the past year. Sri Chanchalapathi Dasa, Vice Chairman and Co-Mentor of the Global Hare Krishna Movement and Senior Vice President of ISKCON Bangalore was the Chief Guest on the occasion.

Sri Chanchalapathi Dasa delivered the Dr. M. V. Kesava Rao Foundation Day Memorial Lecture in memory of the institute's founding principal. In his address, he highlighted the stress experienced by youngsters due to excessive exposure to too much information, pointing out the cases of suicide among highly talented youngsters. He also stressed the need to follow India's tradition to evade stress.

Prof. Prasad Krishna, Director of NIT Calicut, presided over the programme and delivered the State of the Institute Address. NITC is the largest NIT in India with over 7500 students, 425 faculty members and over 300 non-teaching staff, he added that the institute recruited over 100 faculty and over 200 non-faculty in the past year.

Shri Ravi Raghavan, an alumnus of the 1983-88 batch of the Institute and Managing Director of Bharat Fritz Werner Ltd (BFW), was the guest of honour. In his address, he urged the students to master their knowledge in one vertical and explore innovations and knowledge in multidisciplinary areas to face the challenges in the modern world.

Cdr. Dr. Shamasundara M.S., Registrar of NITC; Dr. G. K. Rajanikant, General Convener of the Programme and Chairperson of C-PRIME and Dr. M. K. Ravi Varma, General Convener of the programme and Dean (International, Alumni and Corporate Relations) also spoke at the event. Upholding the theme of the foundation Day ‘Sustainability with Technology’ the guests also planted tree saplings on the South Campus of the Institute.

Awards and Recognition:

The Institute also honoured 8 alumni of the Institute by offering them the Distinguished Alumni Award. The winners are Shri J A Kamalakar, Director ISRO / Honorary Adviser ISRO [Technology Innovation Excellence], Shri Roshan V. Joseph, A. Russell Chandler III Chair Professor, Georgia Institute of Technology [Academic Excellence], Shri Milind Lakkad, Executive Vice President & CHRO, Tata Consultancy Services [Managerial Excellence], Shri Subba Rao Pavuluri, Chairman & Managing Director, Ananth Technologies [Entrepreneurial Excellence], Shri Hari Shankar, IPS Officer, SP Cyber Operations, Kerala Police [Excellence in Public Services and Other Walks of Life], Smt. Usha P Verma, Outstanding Scientist & Associate Director, ASL, DRDO [Excellence in Institutional Development and Alma Mater Services], Shri Saurabh Sinha, Founder & Chairman, EMIDS [Excellence in Institutional Development and Alma Mater Services] and Shri Nidhin Valsan, IPS Officer, DCP, Delhi Police [Emerging Alumni Leader Award].

The institute honoured 13 retired faculty and non-faculty members, aged above 85, at the event. Besides, the past presidents of NITCAA (NITC Alumni Association), and employees who have completed 25 years of service at NITC were honoured.

The institute also presented five proficiency awards to the wards of NITC employees who secured high marks in class 10 and 12 exams.

The Union Bank of India Institute Research and Development Award 2024 for researchers for lifetime, Mid and Early Career achievements. The winners are Dr. Santosh G. Thampi, Professor of Civil Engineering; Dr. Kumaravel S, Associate Professor of Electrical Engineering; and Dr. Noel Jacob Kaleekal.

The Bank of Baroda Young Investigator Award was presented to Dr. Basil Kuriachan from the Mechanical Engineering Department.

The Institute also conferred the State Bank of India Best Teacher award in Professor, Associate Professor and Assistant Professor Category up on Prof. G Unnikrishnan, Chemistry Department; Dr. Sudheer A. P., Mechanical Engineer; Dr. Yogeshwar Vijaykumar Navandar, Civil Engineering.

Skylight Expo 2024

An exhibition of projects and innovations by students of different institute departments was on display as part of the Foundation Day Celebration. The Exhibition will remain open for school-college students on Monday.

Media Reports